our roots

Food is community

Chunk Belly started in 2016, in my San Francisco apartment that I shared with 7 people.

it was the election year. The country was divided, hate was being spewed from all sides, and anger and fear seemed to be the new normal. It was hard to find calmness… it was hard to feel at home anywhere.

I began to seek out communities…places and spaces where I was surrounded by good people where I could be myself and feel safe. I quickly realized that people love food, and will come from all corners of the Bay Area in order to eat it. Soon it occurred to me, that I could create that space for myself and others. I had the tools and the space, now I just needed the hook. Something that would bring people to me.

FOOD.

Food had always been the center of community for me. Growing up, dinner time was sacred family time. It was the moment in the day when we all came together over a tasty hot meal, and debriefed, let go, reconnected. I wanted to recreate that feeling. So I started baking. Taught myself how to make crusts, and how to cream sugar and butter, and started making treats for my friends.

People started coming over just to eat pies I would make. I would design bakes for friends based on their favorite flavors. People loved it and it provided me with a sense of purpose and an outlet for my love.

I had created a community… around baked goods. A place where people felt special and loved and also full. I could exercise my creativity and bring people together. It seemed like the ultimate win in a time of turbulence and unrest. So I kept doing it, and fell in love with this art.

In good times, baking has been an additional happiness to be shared with friends and family. In bad times, it has been a life line, a reminder of love, and a gesture of kindness.

Bake it and they will come and they will feel loved.